Apparatus for photographing the sea bottom



June 16, 1931. .F s l 1,810,302

APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING THE SEA BOTTOM Filed April 23, 1929 1 1 am? I J $221615 INVENTOR ATTORNEY vice' of this type which will be simple and art.

Patented June 16, 1931' UNI? @EDjsTATEs PATENT: oF Ics FRANK-r. 'STILES, or .ivrrAivrr, 'rnonrnA I r ArPARA'riisroR PHOTOGRAPHING THE SEA reorroivr Application filed April 23,

The invention relates to accessories for use in connection; with photographic work and has special reference to meanspermitting the taking of still orinotion pictures 5 of marine growth, I a V I The principal object of the invention, generally stated, is to provide a device adapted to be partly immersed in the sea or other,

body of water whereiniis the marine growth 10 to be photographed, the device being in- I tendedtoflaccommodate one or more oper- 7 ators and a camera and embodying atransparent pane through which pictures maybe taken. 7 I I jihn important; object of the invention is to provide a deviceof this character particularly adapted to be carried on shipboard and to be let down at the side of the ship so that the active end will be immersed within the water, thus permitting photographing the bottom and any marine life.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of i this character equipped at its lower end with a transparent pane and adapted to be let into the water at an angle, the angularity of the pane with respect to the surface of the water preventing the formation of air bubbles on the glass which might seriously interfere with visi-r bility.

tobeused.' p

An additional object is-t0 provide a deinexpensive to manufacture, easy to use,

positive in action, efiicient and, durablein service, and a general improvement in: the

Yet another object is to provide a device board or out board as thecase may be depending upon whether or notthe device is 1928. Serial No. 357,512.

With the above and other objects andad vantages in view, the invention preferably consists in the details of construction and" the arrangement'and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which: I a

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device showing it in operative position with respect to the side of a ship and thesurface of the Waiter. ,g g a 1 Figure 2 isfa vertical longitudinahsectional view through the device;

Figure 3 is a cross section looking downwardly. I Z

Referring more particularly to the draw indicated as awhole by the numeral 10jand made of any desired dimensions and mate rial, In actual practice, however, I have found itfa' very. convenlent plan to construct this device of a plurality of longitudinally fastened together in any preferred manner.

The bars 11 maybe recessed into the, ele

'ments formingrthe frame 12, for instance as illustrated or they may be connected thereto other details being more or less immaterial The skeleton structure defined by thef'b'ars .ll'and frame 12 is covered as for example] byrmetalplates or'sheet metal indicatedat l8'to, form an enclosure. 'Obviously, the

sheathing or outer covering may be painted or otherwise finished to withstand the action of'sea'o'r fresh waterso as it be durable and not likely to corrode or rust.

The frame member 12 at the upper end" ofthe device remains open while theframe at the lower ",end [is rabbetedor otherwise formedftorecei've and retain a pane 1a of fplateglass, or its equivalent, which may be packed at, its edges in, any desiredjmanher so as to be water tightl It is oof course intended thattheentiredevice 10 be watertight so that when sub er ed beneath the surface ofthe water, which surface is indi-r 'ings, I have shownthe device as comprising an elongated rectangular box-like structure in some other manner, theseand various r outed at 15, no water will at any time enter the device itself.

As one end of the member 10 is intended to be submerged within the Water and to remain so regardless of whether or not an operator is within it, I provide weights distributed at the most eflicient points, these weights being represented at 16 and 17, the former being located within the device and the latter being suitably secured upon the top thereof. However, it will be readily apparent that any other suitable weight, arrangement might be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

In order that the device may be readily handled, I have shown it provided near its ends with suitable suspension elements 18 with which may be connected, by any interposed means, cables or ropes 19 adapted to be trained about pulleys or the like forming part of a derrick or davit structure andv likewise adapted to have tension applied thereto by any desired means whatsoever so that the device may be lifted about and either disposed in board or over board when its use is desired. I

For the convenience of an operator in entering and leaving the device, I provide a ladder structure which may simply include a plurality of rungsQO secured tothe bars 11 at one side of the device, naturally the lowermost side. 7 I In the use of the device, it is apparent that it is disposed over board so that the lower or weighted end equipped with the transparent pane will be submerged within the water, the device being preferably arran ed at an angle of approximately The operator then. enters the device by means of the ladder, carrying with him the camera to be used, and can then open the camera properly in practically any direction so as to take pictures through the transparent pane 14, these pictures being of the bottom, coral, rocks, marine vegetation, fish or in factany other objects or growth which may be present within the body of water. It is of course obvious that still or motion pictures may be made, this depending entirely upon what is desired under the circumstances. WVhen the device is not in preferred embodiment of the invention it should be understood that I reserve the right to make all such changes in the details of construction and inthe arrangement and combination of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

- Having thus described the invention I claim r In a device of the class described, a hollow rectangular body closed at one end and open at its other end, a pane of transparent material mounted in the closed end of the body whereby a photographer entering the body may make photographic exposures through said pane when the body is immersedendwise in inclined position in a bodyof water, a cable connected to the body adjacent theupper rear corners thereof, another cable connected to the body adjacent the upper front corners thereof, the cables constituting means whereby the body may be maintained in a definite tilted position for endwise immersion in the water, a weight upon the top of the body at the forward end thereof'and a weight within the body upon the bottom thereof and at the forward end of said bottom.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FRANK I. STILES.

use it is simply hoisted in board and disi posed upon the deck or other convenient portion of the ship or boat.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a very simple device for the purpose s ecified and one which will efficiently peri drm all the functions for which it is intended. It is believed that the construction, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation. 

